Defence Online

Type of document: Contract Notice
Country: United Kingdom
Publication Ref: (2024/S 000-038769/EN)
Nature of contract: Service contract
Procedure: Negotiated without a call for competition
Type of bid required: Not applicable

Voluntary ex ante transparency notice
Services

Section I: Contracting authority
I.1) Name and addresses
Official name: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
National registration number: N/A
Postal address: Culham Campus
Town: Abingdon
Postal code: OX14 3DB
Country: United Kingdom
Contact Person: Caroline Gow
Telephone: +44 123546
Email: caroline.gow@ukaea.uk
Internet address(es):
Main address:

I.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
I.5) Main activity
Other activity: Fusion Research

Section II: Object
II.1) Scope of the procurement
II.1.1) Title: Pension administration services

Reference number: JNCA/CG157/23
II.1.2) Main CPV code: 66522000
II.1.3) Type of contract Services
II.1.4) Short Description:
Pension administration services
II.1.6) Information about lots
The contract is divided into lots: no
II.1.7) Total value of the procurement(excluding VAT)
Value:6500000.00
Currency:GBP
II.2) Description
II.2.2)Additional CPV code(s)
Main CPV code: 66500000
Main CPV code: 66520000

II.2.3) Place of performance
Nuts code:
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Pension administration services

II.2.5) Award criteria
II.2.11) Information about options
Options: no
II.2.13) Information about European Union funds
The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: no
Section IV: Procedure
IV.1) Description
IV.1.1) Type of procedure
Negotiated procedure without prior publication(in accordance with Article 32 of Directive 2014/24/EU)
IV.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement(GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: yes
IV.2) Administrative information

Section V: Award of contract/concession
Title: Pension administration services

V.2) Award of contract/concession
V.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract/concession award decision:2024-10-08
V.2.2) Information about tenders
V.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Official name: Paymaster (1836) Limited
National registration number: 03249700
Postal address: Sutherland House, Russell Way, Crawley, West Sussex RH10 1UH
Town: Crawley
Postal code: RH10 1UH
Country: United Kingdom
Nuts code:
The contractor is an SME: no

V.2.4) Information on value of the contract/lot/concession(excluding VAT)
for framework agreements – total maximum value for this lot
for contracts based on framework agreements, if required – value of contract(s) for this lot not included in
previous contract award notices

Section VI: Complementary informationVI.4) Procedures for review
VI.4.1) Review body
Official name: UK Atomic Energy Authority
Postal address: Culham Science Centre
Town: Abingdon
Postal code: OX14 3DB
Country: United Kingdom
Internet address:

VI.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
Official name: UK Atomic Energy Authority
Postal address: Culham Science Centre
Town: Abingdon
Postal code: OX14 3DB
Country: United Kingdom
Internet address:

VI.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:
VI.4.2)Body responsible for mediation procedures
VI.4.3)Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:
The authority will incorporate a minimum 10 calendar day standstill period at the point information on the award of the contract is communicated to tenderers.
This period allows unsuccessful tenderers to seek further debriefing from the authority before a contract is entered into applicants have 2 working days from the notification of the award decision to request. Additional debriefing and that information have to be provided within a minimum of 3 working days before the expiry of the standstill period. Such additional information should be sought from the contact named in this notice.
If an appeal regarding the award of a contract has not been successfully resolved, the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (SI 2015 No. 102) provide for aggrieved parties who have been harmed or are at risk of harm by a breach of the rules to take action in the High Court (England, Wales and Northern Ireland).
Any such action must be brought promptly.
(generally within 3 months).

VI.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
Official name: UK Atomic Energy Authority
Postal address: Culham Science Centre
Town: Abingdon
Postal code: OX14 3DB
Country: United Kingdom
Internet address:

VI.5) Date of dispatch of this notice:
2024-12-02

Justification for the award of the contract without prior publication of a call for
competition in the Official Journal of the European Union
1.Justification for the choice of the negotiated procedure without prior publication of a call for competition in accordance with Article
32 of Directive 2014/24/EU
The works, supplies or services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
absence of competition for technical reasons

3.Explanation
Please explain in a clear and comprehensive manner why the award of the contract without prior publication in the Official Journal of the European Union
is lawful, by stating the relevant facts and, as appropriate, the conclusions of law in accordance with the directive:
The contract is to supply pension administration services to UKAEA. UKAEA acts as scheme manager for several pension schemes, meaning there is a statutory requirement to run the schemes. There is no service requirement for investment management or advice under this contract.
Reason for non-competitive action – Timing and cost Issue caused by legislation (see below)
Under the Public Service Pensions Act 2013 the UKAEA pension scheme (‘Scheme’) is required to close to future accrual (i.e. individuals will stop building up pension) and ensure active members start building up pension in ‘alpha’, part of the civil service pension scheme. The alpha contract is overseen by the Cabinet Office. UKAEA’s role in this will be as an employer, rather than contract manager.
This legally-mandated change was due to occur in 2017-18, however this has now been delayed until late 2026.
The existing contract for Pension administration services expires in March 2025.
Once the move to alpha occurs, the existing Scheme will have only deferred and pensioner members. Deferred members are those who are no longer building up pension but have not yet retired.
The UKAEA Scheme has 40k members, of which 4k are active.
Due to the transition costs and the duration it would take to transition to a new supplier with then having to halt any active member work from 2026 due to alpha ie the contract will need to have 12-18 months of a full admin service, then dropping down to just deferred/pensioners we will direct awarded to our existing administration providers to ensure continuity of service for this work.